Process for the manufacture of alkali metal hydrides in coarse powder form

US3963831A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Dynamit Nobel GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Arnold Lenz · Kornwestheim, DE
• Walter Rogler

Key dates

• Filing date: Dec 5, 1973
• Grant date: Jun 15, 1976
• Expiry date: Dec 5, 1993

Classification

• Technology area (CPC C): Chemistry; Metallurgy
• CPC primary: C01B6/04
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

Alkali metal hydrides, obtained by reacting alkali metals in liquid form with hydrogen in the presence of alkali metal hydrides, are obtained in coarsely crystalline form by continuously introducing into the reaction vessel containing constantly agitated alkali metal hydride only so much alkali metal in liquid form which corresponds stoichiometrically to the amount of hydrogen reacted and maintaining the unreacted metal concentration at 3 weight percent or less of the pre-introduced metal hydride present. In preferred aspect, the pre-introduced metal hydride is agitated by mixing means at a circumferential velocity of 0.5 to 2 meters/second and maintained at 250.degree.-310.degree.C., to yield hydride crystals in the range of 100 to 1000 microns. The hydride thus obtained may be ground in an inert hydrocarbon mixture to a finer particle material still having a relatively low surface area and recovered as a stabilized, non-sticking, non-self ignitable alkali metal hydride product.